Knowing Christ Jesus

Sorry I realize its been a few days since I have had the chance to update this so I'm doing it now. I would love to begin with a verse that has been on my heart tonight while reading the word, Philippians 3:7-8 "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them RUBBISH, THAT I MAY GAIN CHRIST." Many of you have probably heard these words before in a sermon or in your own reading; in fact, I still remember a very convicting sermon I heard from Francis Chan about these words. Philippians is a great book as a whole, and chapter three is amazing. It is a letter written from Paul, to his brethren at the church that he founded there in Acts 16. Compared to many of the other epistles, it contains much more gratitude and less rebuke of some type of evil in the church. This chapter displays how Paul had all the religious 'points' anyone could ever ask for. All of that, meant nothing WITHOUT CHRIST. Without God, nothing. With God, everything. Paul considered ALL THINGS RUBBISH compared to the infinite greatness of the relationship he could have with Christ Jesus. These words strike me at the core, as I'm sure they will for anyone who reads them with a discerning heart. God and nothing else. God and nothing else. KNOWING CHRIST JESUS! I know that I do not live up to this standard. I pray to, but even my prayer time is eaten up by things that I have not considered loss compared to the worth of knowing God.
I mean only to use these words as the exhortation and rebuke they are to me. One thing I have emphasized repeatedly to the guys I am with on this trip is that the foremost goal should be knowing and falling in love with Jesus. If that does not happen this trip is sadly a failure, because it will end in the same apathy we had before. I have to preach this to myself more than I do to them. I know what it is like to come back from a trip like this. You have vigor for the word for two weeks, and then distractions start getting in the way. Don't get me wrong, the last time I came to Australia my life was radically changed. I started reading and praying and coming to God much more than before. But compared to Paul's standard, one we are supposed to imitate, it's nothing. For the past week or so, I have been listening to a man named Paul Washer. He is a fantastic preacher of the Word, but from his teachings I have become even more convicted of scripture like this. If I were to actually treat God as more than just my upmost priority, but as my source of life; then my life would look different. These words from Philippians are an exhortation to me because they give me such joy and remind me how important knowing Christ Jesus is. All other things are rubbish. And in that vein, these words are a staunch rebuke. All other things are rubbish and nothing compares to knowing God. Knowing God is my biggest prayer request for myself and my team. Pray for us to know God in the same way that Paul did.

Now time for a few bits of ministry news! The ministry has been good the past few days. First, we did take a day as a team to spend as our 'Day with the Lord'. It is so important that while one is constantly pouring out, they pour back into themselves with the Lord's strength. While this is a daily thing for us as Christians, it is so important to see that even in Jesus' ministry he removed Himself with His Father for periods of time in solitude. It was great to hear the experiences of the students and just for me to get the time to be with my Lord. Another person named Tuan came to Christ last week. I have forgotten for some reason at this moment, but I believe that brings the project total to seven. That is such an amazing blessing! And I know students are meeting up with others, and seeking to share Christ's love as much as possible with maybe their last chance to here. I have not had any overly amazing conversations the last few days, but a few interesting ones. One guy named Adam was raised Christian, but now believes it to be all lies. He told us Christianity resembles to much of Egyptian religion, and named a documentary called Zeitgeist as his source of 'truth'. I had heard a little about this claim, but not a ton. So we tried to share the truth and what we knew how to, and explain how Jesus is the only true God who rose from the dead. It didn't end exactly how I would have loved, but we did share the gospel in it's true form, one he had never heard (works-based nonsense). It was super reassuring to do some research on the whole Zeitgeist thing, and now have a few answers prepared for the next time someone brings it up. Had another conversation with an atheist whose name is slipping my mind right now for some dumb reason. He took our survey, and was certain of his answers. It was so sad to see, but he allowed us to share the gospel with him, which was great! Sometimes you don't see people take big steps from having a -10 attitude towards Christ to a 10. Many times in evangelism here, people may move from a -10 to a -9.9. But I am so thankful for that change and any that happens! I know God is working here, just as He is working all over the world through His creation! Continue to pray for outreach these last few days. Pray everyone has strength and fervor to continue. Pray that they would feel the necessity to reach out to each and every student. Pray for focus, because it is hard to have the seemingly same conversations over and over again. Also pray for all the guys. I am finishing up my discipleship with them this week. It has been such a privilege getting to know them and pointing them to Christ. I want them to remember the things they learned on this trip. Discipleship has been one of my absolute favorite parts of this trip. I have loved coming before the Lord with all of the guys and learning about Him and how to advance His kingdom. So pray for that too! Thank you all so much!